81%
Graduation Rate
90%
Retention Rate
[updated for 2024-2025 graduation data]
At Michigan State University, the graduation rate is 81 % within 150% normal time, the retention rate is 90 %, as of August 31, 2025.
Its graduation rate is relatively higher than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 72.57% (public Research University with very high research activity).
Graduation Rates in Reasonable Completion Time
For the academic year 2024-2025, 6,856 students out of 8,494 candidates have completed their courses within 150% normal time (i.e. in 6 years for 4-year BS degree) at Michigan State University.
By gender, 3,131 male and 3,725 female students graduated the school last year completing their jobs in the period.
| Candidates | Completers | Graduation Rates |
|---|
| Total | 8,494 | 6,856 | 80.72% |
|---|
| Men | 4,044 | 3,131 | 77.42% |
|---|
| Women | 4,450 | 3,725 | 83.71% |
|---|
Graduation Rate By Race/Ethnicity
The following table shows graduation rate by race and at Michigan State University.
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 38.46%
- Asian: 83.01%
- Black (Non-Hispanic): 68.40%
- Hispanic: 71.93%
- White: 83.85%
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 66.67%
- Two or More Race: 72.34%
- Unknown: 65.22%
Graduation Rate by Gender
| Total | Male | Female |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 38.46%(5/13) |
42.86%(3/7) |
33.33%(2/6) |
|---|
| Asian | 83.01%(464/559) |
79.93%(215/269) |
85.86%(249/290) |
|---|
| Black (Non-Hispanic) | 68.40%(474/693) |
61.90%(156/252) |
72.11%(318/441) |
|---|
| Hispanic | 71.93%(351/488) |
66.17%(133/201) |
75.96%(218/287) |
|---|
| White | 83.85%(4,799/5,723) |
80.55%(2,174/2,699) |
86.81%(2,625/3,024) |
|---|
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 66.67%(2/3) |
100.00%(2/2) |
- |
|---|
| Two or More Race | 72.34%(204/282) |
73.68%(98/133) |
71.14%(106/149) |
|---|
| Unknown | 65.22%(30/46) |
68.00%(17/25) |
61.90%(13/21) |
|---|
Transfer-out and Retention Rates
At MSU, the transfer-out rate is 10.65%.
MSU's retention rate is 90% for full-time students and 65 % for part-time students last year. Its retention rate is around the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 87.20%.
Non-Resident Alien Graduation Rate
A non-resident alien student is not a US citizen/green card holder and studies with a student visa, such as an F visa, in the United States. At Michigan State University, 527 of 687 non-resident alien students completed their studies and the graduation rate was 76.71%.